The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Louis walked through the main estate grounds, carefully inspecting the ongoing restoration of the Duke and Duchess’s residence. The construction crew was still hard at work rebuilding the wing that had been turned to wreckage.

Once he finished his rounds and ensured everything was proceeding according to schedule, he left the property. Feeling the strain of the morning, he decided to stop at a familiar local restaurant nearby to have his lunch.

”Sir, you have not visited us in such a long time,” the waiter said with a warm smile, stepping up to the table and handing over the menu.

”Thank you. Yes, I have been incredibly busy with affairs lately and simply could not find the time to visit this side of the district,” Louis replied, offering a polite nod. ”I will just take my regular lunch meal today.”

He closed the menu and returned it to the waiter, who bowed respectfully before walking away to place the order.

Louis picked up his glass of water to take a sip when a soft voice suddenly interrupted the quiet of the restaurant.

”My Lord, may I sit here?”

He lifted his gaze from the table and found himself looking at a young woman whose refined posture and fine garments clearly marked her as a member of a noble family.

”My apologies, but the other tables are entirely vacant,” Louis stated, keeping his tone perfectly polite yet detached as he gestured toward the rest of the dining room.

”Yes, they are,” the noble lady replied, unfazed by his subtle dismissal as she rested her hand on the back of the empty chair opposite him. ”But I would prefer to sit here and have a conversation with you.”

”I suggest you visit the administration center if you have something important to discuss,” Louis stated. ”Right now, I am off duty. So, please allow me some space.”

”Mr. Wellington, I do not have anything official to discuss with you that would require a visit to the administration center. Instead, I am here with a personal proposal,” the young woman explained, refusing to back down. ”Would you truly not even consider courting me? I have been following you for quite some time now. I even sent you letters over the past few months, but you never responded to a single one. That is precisely why I was forced to appear before you in this manner.”

Louis furrowed his brows, searching his memory for any recollection of the correspondence she mentioned.

He vaguely recalled receiving several sealed envelopes over the past few seasons, all of which he had promptly discarded in the waste bin without a second thought, as he simply had no interest in idle courtship.

”Forgive me, but I am not interested,” Louis replied, his voice flat and unyielding.

”Why not? My father is a prominent banker,” the young woman countered, her posture stiffening slightly with pride. ”You would benefit immensely from an alliance with my family if you were to marry me.”

Louis chuckled lightly, the sound devoid of any real amusement. ”If the day comes that I must choose a wife, it certainly will not be someone who relies on the rank and wealth of her father to state her worth,” he asserted. ”My food is arriving. Please allow me to eat in peace,” Louis added, his tone sharpening. ”Furthermore, you ought to consider your own dignity. In polite society, a lady who pursues a man only to be rejected is not looked upon kindly.”

The woman clenched her fists, her face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and anger. She stood up abruptly from the table, glaring down at him. ”I will return again, Mr. Wellington.” With that final warning, she turned on her heel and swept out of the restaurant.

”What on earth was that?” Louis murmured to himself, rubbing the bridge of his nose just as the waiter returned to the table and quietly set down his dishes.

He managed to finish his lunch meal in peace, the quiet of the restaurant finally restored. After settling the bill, he stepped out onto the cobblestone street and looked up at the uncharacteristically pleasant sky, letting out a satisfied breath. ”The food here truly never disappoints.”

”Lord Wellington, please do not reject me so hastily. At least grant me the opportunity to introduce myself,” the very same woman’s voice reached his ears, shattering his brief moment of tranquility.

He turned his head, his brows raising in genuine surprise to find her waiting just outside the establishment.

”My name is Ailany Morgan,” she introduced herself, her tone softer now, devoid of her previous arrogance. ”I have admired you since the day you saved my life.”

”Saved you? When?” Louis asked, his expression entirely blank. ”Pardon me, Lady Ailany, but I do not recall any such incident.” He racked his brain, searching for any memory of her, but nothing came to mind.

”Six months ago at the autumn town fair,” Ailany explained, looking at him with disappointment and earnestness. ”A heavy wooden signboard broke loose and almost crushed me, but you reacted instantly and pulled me out of harm’s way. I even sent a formal thank-you note to your estate afterward. It turns out Lord Wellington did not bother to read that either.”

”Lady Ailany, I simply do not believe I am the right match for you,” Louis said firmly, trying to end the conversation before it drew any more public attention.

”Why?” Ailany countered, her eyes flashing with frustration. ”How can you possibly know that without even giving me a chance? If your heart belongs to someone else already, then tell me, and I will understand.”

”It is not that. I am simply not interested in the prospect of marriage right now,” Louis replied, his tone softening with a touch of genuine regret. ”Forgive me for breaking your expectations like this.”

Offering a brief, polite bow to dismiss himself, he turned and quickly climbed into his waiting carriage before she could argue further, signaling the driver to pull away immediately.